“So let me say it again, this truth: It’s better for you that I leave. If I don’t leave, the Friend won’t come. But if I go, I’ll send him to you.
When he comes, he’ll expose the error of the godless world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment:
He’ll show them that their refusal to believe in me is their basic sin;
that righteousness comes from above, where I am with the Father, out of their sight and control;
that judgment takes place as the ruler of this godless world is brought to trial and convicted.”
John 16: 7-11 The Message
The Friend Jesus is speaking about is God the Holy Spirit. He is the active agent of the trinity operating on the earth. So much of a close personal relationship with the Godhead centers around the third person of the Godhead.
He is not an emotion or a nonsensical language. He is very much God, and in this portion of New Testament scripture, Jesus outlines the Holy Spirit’s relationship with Christ-followers.
1—to expose the error of the world’s view of sin, righteousness, and judgment
Today’s world is cluttered with people’s views on everything under the sun. These views have dictated how governments are run, and people live their lives. The result is a world of chaos, but such chaos is the adversary’s plan—the devil—to discredit God.
His plan appears to be working.
A recent Pew Research survey revealed that nearly 60% of Americans do not believe in the return of Christ. The survey also found that almost half (49%) of Christians do not believe.
The relationship of God, the Holy Spirit, is to show the Christ-follower what the Bible says about sin, righteousness, and judgment.
2—refusing to believe is humanities primary sin
The Pew Research survey is both concerning and confirming.
Today’s Christian church increasingly embraces a non-biblical (even anti-biblical) worldview. The reason is the church has refused to believe. This refusal to believe stems from a lack of relationship with the Godhead.
The church has become a crutch to appease a guilt-ridden humanity that it is okay to believe what you want to believe—God still loves you.
While it is true that God’s love does not wane, righteousness—being in right standing with God—is laid out in the Christian Bible. Love is not an excuse to sin, and grace is not an excuse to continue to sin.
A close personal relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, teaches you what to believe and how to believe. It is a process, much like education. You do not expect a first-grader to grace college algebra, nor should you expect a new Christ-follower to grasp things a lifelong Christ-follower knows.
3—righteousness comes from God the Father
Righteous means to be in right standing with…in this case, God.
Think of it this way.
Righteous means standing next to God, something you would not be confident doing knowing there is sin in your life.
The price paid by Jesus allows all humanity to stand next to God. Acknowledging Jesus’ sacrifice (being born again) enables you to stand next to God. A close personal relationship with God, the Holy Spirit, teaches you how to stand next to God confidently.
Do you see the progression? It takes time, and the person of the Holy Spirit is present to help you in your journey.
4—the ruler of godlessness is judged and convicted
There is a future reality that was settled eons ago.
–there is an adversary—the devil
–he rebelled against God and was expelled from heaven along with those who rebelled because of him
–he has legal rights over the earth
–Jesus redeemed humanity, but humanity remains under the legal banner of the devil
–there is a judgment day set in which the devil and those who rebelled with him will remove from his position and expelled into eternal damnation.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead keeps this reality in perspective in the Christ-followers’ life.
A close personal relationship with the Godhead is a journey. I invite you to follow along. As I learn, I hope that as you learn, you can pass it along so that I (and others) might learn. I will pass it along as I learn so you, too, can learn.